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By HVnews on March 22, 2012

”My heart is in pain. But to see the support of all of you really makes a difference” –Sybrina Fulton, mother of Trayvon Martin at Wednesday night’s ‘Million Hoodie March’

Just hours after city commissioners in Sanford, Florida, voted “no confidence” in police chief Bill Lee Jr. over the department’s handling of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin’s killing, hundreds of justice-seekers gathered thousands of miles away, lining New York City’s Union Square for a “Million Hoodie March.”

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Martin’s father Tracy Martin and mother Sybrina Fulton joined the crowd. “We’re not going to stop until we get justice,” Tracy Martin said. “My son did not deserve to die.”

The march began in Union Square and moved in several directions before ending up in Times Square, featured chants from supporters like “We want arrests!” and “We are all Trayvon.”

If you need a refresher, here are the details: The gated community of Retreat of Twin Lakes in Sanford, Florida, had been experiencing some burglaries. A 28-year-old man named George Zimmerman volunteered to head up a neighborhood watch. On February 26, the 17-year-old Martin, who had been staying at his father’s girlfriend’s house, went out to 7-Eleven to get some Skittles and an iced tea. When he returned, Zimmerman thought him “suspicious,” called 911 and pursued the “suspect” in defiance of police orders. At some point there was a confrontation, loud wails could be heard, a gunshot, then silence. When police arrived, Martin was dead. Zimmerman claimed he acted in self-defense. He was questioned and released. He has not been arrested or charged.

Earlier this week, the U.S. Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division and the FBI announced they will conduct an independent review. But outraged supporters want justice now. They demand justice.

UPDATE: Chief Lee on Thursday “removed himself temporarily” from the Trayvon Martin case.